State pension

I like to challenge things which aren't true.

I've learnt that if you just roll your eyes and shrug - but politely don't say anything - then fantasy becomes a narrative that more and more people believe... and then I end up paying for whatever nonsense they believe.

You replied to ME. I'll go back to ignoring you.

Will do. You should too. Stuff that actually matters.

Wait - you pay 75% of your earnings into savings and your husband pays more than your monthly salary into his pension, and you're "concerned"?!

Oh please.

I can't even afford to put in an extra 10% into my pension. And I'm older than you.

It’s absolutely not a self funding scheme. it’s paid for by the current generation of workers. So today’s taxes are currently paying to keep the triple lock for today’s pensioners. Makes it very hard to justify taking it away from those who have contributed all their lives to other people’s pensions but then have to be told they won’t get their own.

You concentrate on your own stuff. 👍

I mean, personally, I don't really care.

There are only 5.5 million people in Scotland to 58.8 million in England, so the cost of the subsidy isn't all that high from each English person.

It's already actually London subsidising all other parts of England - as well as the other nations - from the £69k value produced per person, so a few people getting a bit extra doesn't matter too much.

But the myth of independence not only keeps wasting everyone's time (what happened to a referendum for a generation?) but if sheer repetition (until one year people are a bit more pissed off at life - which they displace onto the English) means Scotland does secede, that will waste absolutely enormous amounts of money and time. Brexit will be nothing compared to dismantling a 300 year union where we are utterly entangled.

If only Scottish people get to vote on secession, then only Scotland should be paying for it. I certainly don't want to.

When you consider the challenges the UK faces today (which all the nations in the UK face) there are frankly far more important things for us all to be focusing on.

Do you have different information?

Or just blind faith?

You keep thinking that 🤣

I doubt they’d means test it. People would just retire early, spend their pension on holidays, and then rely on the state.

It's become a general tax.
But historically it was insurance.

It's not just your higher taxes that fund it.

Total public spending in Scotland sits roughly £2,400 to £2,700 higher per person than the UK average. Only £300 per person comes from the extra revenue from higher taxes. The rest comes from redistribution of broader UK-wide tax revenues according to the Barnett formula.

And when I say redistribution of UK wide taxes, that means redistribution from England to Scotland (and the other nations).

GDP per person (how much is produced) is £40,537 in England compared to £39,421/ £41,612 for Scotland (depending on whether you include oil or not). Ie even with oil, it's not enough higher to justify the extra £2100-£2400 spending of central tax revenue per person in Scotland.

You're welcome.

Nic was increased under brown specifically to raise funds to increase the nhs budget.

nic funds approx 20% of the nhs budget.

NI was introduced in 1911, and was intended as an insurance for workers.

The NHS was always intended to be needs-based and universal.

The way our Welfare system works is that you pay most taxes during your adult life, but that covers your use of state services at all times of your life, including childhood and old age.

• You need schooling between the ages of 5-18.

• You need healthcare at all times of your life, but mainly pre-school (GP visits), older age, and women 20-39 for maternity services.

All your ages are covered for all state services, although your contributions may be concentrated between ages 18-67 since that's the age you mostly work. The state is able to even out needs and contributions over everyone's lifespan!

But our universal health service has nothing to do with NI.

Free dental check ups and eye tests too.

Or you could have a country like mine where everyone gets free prescriptions and all under 22s and 60+ get free travel. We pay a bit more tax but it’s well worth it.

@XenoBitch

It does not matter if the 120 year old is mobile or bed bound

Someone will have to pay for our elderly in the future

They might be 117, but are they sat in a chair in a care home?
Or are they out and about doing the same activates as someone 2/3rds of their age?
My money is on the former

The oldest living person is currently 117

AI has the potential to improve medecine quicker than previously. Some people could possibly live longer & healthier 120 + ?

Plus greater use of robots & robotic aids

I would anticipate some future changes related to pensions & social care.

However I do not believe that state pensions will be abolished

When I think about it now that I’m 60 I get free prescriptions and free - mostly - travel (I live in London). I think benefits like this should now be linked to SP
age. I love having both, especially the travel, but people don’t need them if they’re working or have a pension big enough to retire early.

However I’d only be happy to accept those changes if they were part of an overall review of benefits that affected all recipients, not just targeting older people.

Not true.
If you earn over a certain amount, you don't get CT support. That amount is well under MNW. Same with prescriptions (folks in England pay, not Wales or Scotland, some health conditions mean you get free scripts, and if none of the above apply... you can pay about £10pm to cover them anyway). Off the top of my head, earning over £900pm renders you not eligible for council tax support or free prescriptions.
The speeds you get with cheap broadband is shite (and for my supplier, is only £2pm cheaper anyway).
Not everyone needs glasses.
Water companies have their own criteria. Mine caps the rates if you are on benefits. I am on UC, but use well under that cap anyway, so it does not apply.

Same as ours!

What I posted was that I stopped paying it when I retired 7 years before state retirement age.

You don’t pay Ni if you work after state retirement age or on any pension income you receive state or private.

State retirement age.